In this appeal, we review the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision affirming the immigration judge’s denial of Oscar Rolendio Anzueto-Veliz’s requests for asylum and withholding of removal.

An alien must file an application for asylum within one year of his arrival in the United States. 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B). Anzueto-Veliz does not challenge the immigration judge’s finding that he failed to file his application within one year of his arrival. Thus, he has waived his claim for asylum. See Rodriguez v. INS, 9 F.3d 408, 414 n. 15 (5th Cir. 1993).

We also conclude that the immigration judge’s decision denying withholding of removal was supported by substantial evidence. Anzueto-Veliz alleges that he got into a fight with gang members in Guatemala because he refused to join their gang; however, he admits that he had no further direct contact with any gang members after the initial altercation. Anzueto-Veliz merely alleges that he left Guatemala *262 because the gang members continued to inquire about his whereabouts after he had moved several times within Guatemala. Anzueto-Veliz’s isolated encounter with gang members did not constitute persecution and was not indicative of the likelihood of future persecution upon his return to Guatemala. See Efe v. Ashcroft, 293 F.3d 899, 906 (5th Cir. 2002); Chun v. INS, 40 F.3d 76, 78 (5th Cir. 1994).

Anzueto-Veliz’s petition for review is therefore denied.